We’re writing about the ever-changing development plans for the Guilford County Prison Farm. This beautiful tract of land near the border with Alamance County is apparently burning a hole in the pockets of area officials, who can see only dollar signs on its rolling acres.

Historically, the prison farm has saved the county money by growing food for other prisons. It has provided a source of landscape plants, vegetable seedlings and other products beneficial to local citizens. It maintains and passes on culturally and economically important agricultural practices and traditions. And it provides effective rehabilitation for non-violent offenders— surely a wise investment and a social good.

The latest proposal, a 2,500-acre technology park, might make money for developers, but would be disastrous for area residents. The park would require the purchase of large tracts of adjoining land in two counties and would cost tens of millions of dollars for infrastructure including roads, sewer, and water. The city of Burlington would have to supply the water — if possible. Development would generate traffic, congestion, pollution and noise, and would utterly destroy the rural character of the area.

Leave the prison farm alone. There is little enough green space left in the Piedmont.